"Fool in Love" was written and produced by Ester Dean, Dr. Luke, and Cirkut. As noted by Katherine Saint Asaph of Popdust and Amy Sciarretto of Popcrush, the opening lyrics of "Fool in Love" feature close similarities to that of Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody", with regard to the opening lyric "Mama, I found a man." Amy Sciaretto from PopCrush, as well as Katherine Saint Asaph, compared the song's composition to Britney Spears' "Criminal", with regard to how "Fool in Loves instrumental begins with "panning synths" and acoustic guitar, with Sciaretto agreeing that "only Ri could make that juxtaposition work." "Fool in Love" also features a single and double guitar sequence toward the end of the song, which begins with one electric guitar being played and begins to incorporate a second, creating a "twinned" effect, before the song descends into a prolonged fade at the end. Musically, "Fool in Love" is a rhapsodic ballad, which incorporates acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizers and drums. Lyrically, Rihanna tells of how she has met a relatively good man who her parents do not approve of, but requests that they accept her decision to be with him due to their love for each other, despite familial concerns. Rihanna insists that she is in love, singing "Papa he's quite a man, he adores me/ He's my biggest fan." She then claims that he has taken a hold over her, singing "We're too far down the hole/ He's got a hold on my soul." Rihanna's vocal performance in the song was described as the singer's "biggest ornamented" song by Robert Everett-Green of The Globe and Mail, as well as noting that the singer emotes a sense of fatality in her vocals during the bass sequences in the song. "Fool in Love" displays Rihanna emoting a vulnerable style of singing, due to the lyrical content and mood in the song, which can be heard in the lyrics "Papa, are you ashamed of how your little girl turned out?" due to how the singer feels as though her parents are disappointed in her choice of man. Robert Copsey for Digital Spy commented that Rihanna appeared to be channelling Madonna on the song.
Critical reception
Critical reception towards the song was mostly positive. Robert Copsey from Digital Spy commended the balladry on Talk That Talk, paying particular attention to "Fool in Love" and "Farewell", writing "anyone questioning her motives need only hear ballads 'Farewell' and 'Fool in Love' to find out not only does she have a heart, but she's without doubt been putting all of it into these past six years." Robert Everett-Green for The Globe and Mail praised the song, writing "Fool in Love rings down the curtain with a towering anthem that somehow squeezes fresh feeling from a tired lyrical concept." Katherine St Asaph for Popdust emoted a mixed response to "Fool in Love", giving the song three and a half stars out of five and writing that it is "so-bad-it's-good". St Aspash praised "Fool in Love" composition and musical influences, but criticized the song as not providing "dynamic variety" amongst Talk That Talk material.
Cover versions
In October 2012, British R&B-singer Iyaz released a cover version of "Fool in Love".
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Talk That Talk. ;Recording
Production coordination – Irene Richter, Katie Mitzell
Charts
Upon the release of Talk That Talk, "Fool in Love" debuted on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number 70 on November 26, 2011, with sales of 6,536 digital downloads. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 35 on the UK R&B Chart on November 27, 2011. It also debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 123 in the chart issue December 3, 2011.
